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Judas Iscariot A Backslider By: Minister Oscene Barrett
Reflection on the life of a notable Apostle, Judas Iscariot.
He was called and ordained an apostle by the Lord himself. (Mark 3:13-14). He was a preacher and one who had power to heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases (Mark 3:14-15: Matthew 10:1-4). Judas was in the company of Jesus for approximately 3.5 years. He witnessed miracles untold during this time.
He was there when Jesus stopped the funeral procession at the gate of the city and returned that dead man to his weeping widowed mother (Luke 7:12-18) and he was also there at Jairus’ house when Jesus raised his dead 12 year old daughter from death (Luke 8:41-56). Judas witnessed too many miracles to be numbered, and also, he was amongst the company who performed many miracles. He had power to heal sick and to cast out devils, which power he used.
Judas saw the man with the palsy be healed in Mark 2, the impotent man at the gate beautiful in John 5, the cripple man in the temple in Mark 3, the blind man in John 9 and blind Bartemaeus and his friends. Time will fail to talk about the number of lepers that were healed under his watch, the withered, the maimed, the halt, the demon oppressed, and all those diseased. He witness sick people just touching the master and received healing for varied conditions.
For example the maimed, these were amputee, and they were healed, I take this to mean that their missing limbs were replaced with a new one that was just as real as the original. Judas witnessed all this. Judas was among the company of thousands who were fed with just 2 sprats and 5 KFC biscuits. We can go on and on.
Notably, he was taught by the greatest teacher ever lived. He was himself a great teacher. His understanding of the law and ministry of Jesus would be above in modern or subsequent scholar. He sat at Jesus' feet for 3.5 years.
But he backslides!!!!
This shook me so hard, I must admit, I cannot fully understand it. How could a man who had seen God (John 14:4-6 – he was in this company), handled God, talked with God, who had a close relationship with God to the point where he could kiss God end up backsliding? How did he allow himself to fall into this predicament?
Answer, he allowed the devil to get into his heart.
John 13:2, 26-30 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;……….[26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. [27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. [28] Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. [29] For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. [30] He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
It does not matter what ministry you have. You can call yourself whatever you so chooses. Everybody wants to be apostles and prophets these days, but pick whatever best fits, if you do not protect your heart, you will become a Judas Iscari, betrayer and traitor and a backslider.
Judas left his heart unprotected and the devil mess him up. The devil is not playing games. While many are playing church and presenting their nasty selves, the devil is busy destroying. He destroy Judas, by first knocking him down (getting him to betray Jesus), then he knocks him out (getting him to commits suicide). He tried it with Peter, three times while he warmed himself amongst antichrist and an antichrist fire side, but Peter refused to be knocked out, so he ran away crying to Jesus for mercy.
This is how the devil works, he knock you down, that is, cause you to sin, then he tries to finish you off by causing you to commit spiritual suicide. Now, many do not know, but backsliding is spiritual suicide. You are walking away from life (in Jesus alone) into Death (outside of Jesus). Anything outside of Jesus Christ is DEATH even if it is labeled apostolic. Catholism, yahwehism, Jehovahism, and many more is DEATH.
“In HIM (JESUS) was life; and the life was the light of men”. (John 1:3).
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life (1John 5:20)
How can we protect our heart from devil? Answer, by submitting to the will of Jesus
Peter made it clearer. It requires submission, which is described as humility, then resisting, that is, fight back. Here is this powerful passage.
[5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1Peter 5:5-9)
The apostle Paul agreed with Peter. It is all in submission to the will of God. Here Paul describes this a yielding.
[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? [17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. [18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18)
Paul had more to say, he commanded the saints everywhere to put on the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-24 and Romans 13:10-14)
[13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:13-14
Paul was clear, put on Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. Judas gave the flesh provision. He was greedy and covetous and the his love for money was his down fall. So Paul warns us, to give no place for the devil, thus you need to be full of Jesus. Failure to do will be very serious.
Do not be a Judas Iscari, a betrayer, a backslider, and a self-killer. You do not have to kill yourself, though wounded. There is room at the cross. You can be a Peter, just repent, and a love Jesus.
Peace be
He was called and ordained an apostle by the Lord himself. (Mark 3:13-14). He was a preacher and one who had power to heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases (Mark 3:14-15: Matthew 10:1-4). Judas was in the company of Jesus for approximately 3.5 years. He witnessed miracles untold during this time.
He was there when Jesus stopped the funeral procession at the gate of the city and returned that dead man to his weeping widowed mother (Luke 7:12-18) and he was also there at Jairus’ house when Jesus raised his dead 12 year old daughter from death (Luke 8:41-56). Judas witnessed too many miracles to be numbered, and also, he was amongst the company who performed many miracles. He had power to heal sick and to cast out devils, which power he used.
Judas saw the man with the palsy be healed in Mark 2, the impotent man at the gate beautiful in John 5, the cripple man in the temple in Mark 3, the blind man in John 9 and blind Bartemaeus and his friends. Time will fail to talk about the number of lepers that were healed under his watch, the withered, the maimed, the halt, the demon oppressed, and all those diseased. He witness sick people just touching the master and received healing for varied conditions.
For example the maimed, these were amputee, and they were healed, I take this to mean that their missing limbs were replaced with a new one that was just as real as the original. Judas witnessed all this. Judas was among the company of thousands who were fed with just 2 sprats and 5 KFC biscuits. We can go on and on.
Notably, he was taught by the greatest teacher ever lived. He was himself a great teacher. His understanding of the law and ministry of Jesus would be above in modern or subsequent scholar. He sat at Jesus' feet for 3.5 years.
But he backslides!!!!
This shook me so hard, I must admit, I cannot fully understand it. How could a man who had seen God (John 14:4-6 – he was in this company), handled God, talked with God, who had a close relationship with God to the point where he could kiss God end up backsliding? How did he allow himself to fall into this predicament?
Answer, he allowed the devil to get into his heart.
John 13:2, 26-30 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;……….[26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. [27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. [28] Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. [29] For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. [30] He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
It does not matter what ministry you have. You can call yourself whatever you so chooses. Everybody wants to be apostles and prophets these days, but pick whatever best fits, if you do not protect your heart, you will become a Judas Iscari, betrayer and traitor and a backslider.
Judas left his heart unprotected and the devil mess him up. The devil is not playing games. While many are playing church and presenting their nasty selves, the devil is busy destroying. He destroy Judas, by first knocking him down (getting him to betray Jesus), then he knocks him out (getting him to commits suicide). He tried it with Peter, three times while he warmed himself amongst antichrist and an antichrist fire side, but Peter refused to be knocked out, so he ran away crying to Jesus for mercy.
This is how the devil works, he knock you down, that is, cause you to sin, then he tries to finish you off by causing you to commit spiritual suicide. Now, many do not know, but backsliding is spiritual suicide. You are walking away from life (in Jesus alone) into Death (outside of Jesus). Anything outside of Jesus Christ is DEATH even if it is labeled apostolic. Catholism, yahwehism, Jehovahism, and many more is DEATH.
“In HIM (JESUS) was life; and the life was the light of men”. (John 1:3).
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life (1John 5:20)
How can we protect our heart from devil? Answer, by submitting to the will of Jesus
Peter made it clearer. It requires submission, which is described as humility, then resisting, that is, fight back. Here is this powerful passage.
[5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1Peter 5:5-9)
The apostle Paul agreed with Peter. It is all in submission to the will of God. Here Paul describes this a yielding.
[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? [17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. [18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18)
Paul had more to say, he commanded the saints everywhere to put on the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-24 and Romans 13:10-14)
[13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:13-14
Paul was clear, put on Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. Judas gave the flesh provision. He was greedy and covetous and the his love for money was his down fall. So Paul warns us, to give no place for the devil, thus you need to be full of Jesus. Failure to do will be very serious.
Do not be a Judas Iscari, a betrayer, a backslider, and a self-killer. You do not have to kill yourself, though wounded. There is room at the cross. You can be a Peter, just repent, and a love Jesus.
Peace be
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